Method of sealing shafts, tunnels, and the like.



R. G. JGHNSUN. METHOD FOR SEALING SHAFT$, TUNNELS, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED NQV.14, 1912. r 1,0 5,359, Patented June 24, 1913. 28 l I RALPH G. JOHNSON, 0?;BITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD FOR SEALING SHAFTS, TUNNELS, THE LIKE.

menace.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 11131124, 1913,

Application filed November 14, 1912. Serial No; 731,404.

To all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH G. JOHNSON, a

citizen of the United States, residing at.

Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods for Sealing Shafts, Tunnels, and the'Like; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the construction of shafts, tunnels and other excavations and has particular application to an improved method of lining and sealing the shaft where by the inflow of water to the latter from the surrounding rock or ground is effectively prevented. I

It is well known to engineers, contractors and others skilled in the art considerable difficulty is usually experienced in rendering timber and metal lined shafts and tunnels water proof, in the sense of preventing the flow of water into the shaft from the fissures and crevices formed in the rock or bed in which the shaft is sunk. By the employment of my improved method, not only is such a shaft positively sealed against the entrance of water, but a strong, durable and. permanent lining for the shaft is provided.

A further advantage incident to my method is. that not only is the shaft maintained comparatively dry, but the necessity and expense incident to resorting to the use of a pump for emptying the water from the bottom of the shaft is avoided. a

With the above recited objects and others of a similar nature in View, my invention consists 1n the lmproved method set forth in and falling pended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a shaft constructed in accordance with my'invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View thereof.

within the scope of the ap- In the present instance I have shown and Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the numeral 1 designatesthe Iwish it to be underrock or ground in which the excavation 2 is made.

The numeral 3 designates any form of ordinary timber lining or lagging, such as planking or the like, while in the present instance timber sets, or rings or framesof timber for the lagging are shown at 4. Of-

course it is to be understood that the form of timbering shown herein is merely by way of illustration as any form. of lining either of timber or metal may be employed.

In the practice of my invention a portion of the timber lining in the section to be water sealed is removedin sections and the rock rib is then out, if necessary, and leaves a certain clearance behind the timber space. Sheets of corrugated iron or canvas 6 or other suitable material are then placed next to the rock rib to form the dralnage channels timbering and'through which wall projectnumerous pipes which convey the water fromthe rock rib into the shaft. When this concrete wall has sufficiently set all of the pipes are plugged or stopped up, with the exception of one or more which are designed to have a concrete grouting machine operating under pressure attached thereto. Thin cement grout preferably made from Portland cementds then forced through these unplugged plpes, shown in the drawings at 10, into the water bearing fissures in the rock under air pressuresutticient to overcome the pressure of water flowing through the fissures or crevices. This cement. groutwillthus fill and seal the crevices and etfectively prevent the flow of the water into the shaft. Thus the shaft is rendered water proof sofar as the inflow of the water from the surrounding'rock or ground is concerned and the numerous disadvantages incident to the presence of water in the bottom of the shaft are obviated.

While I have herein shown and described Nil oneembodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself riation may be made without departing from he spirit of the claims, for instance, the invention is applicable to shafts of fabri cated steel, wroughtiron sets and to reinforced concrete sets and lagging.

What is claimed is:

1. The herein described method which consists in providing a lined shaft with a concrete wall back of the lining and forcing sealing material under pressure through passageways formed through the wall to seal the shaft against the entrance of water.

2. The herein described method which consists in providing a timber lined shaft with a concrete wall. back of the lining, forming drainage channels between the wall and the surrounding ground, extending water con ducting pipes through the lining'and wall into communication with the channels, and forcing a sealing material under pressure "UOZJEZ; of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner incense through certain of said' pipes to seal the shaft against the entrance of water.

3. The herein described method which consists in providing a timber lined shaft with I a concrete wall back of the lining, forming I drainage channels between the wall and the surrounding ground, extending water cond.uctingpipes through the lining and wall i and into communication with the channels, to draw water into the shaft, then plugging 1 certain of said pipes, and subsequently i forcing cement grout through certain other i of the pipes to seal the shaft against entrance of water. f In testimony whereof, I afiix my signa- 4 tnre, in the presence of two witnesses.

RALPH G. JOHNSON. \Vitnesses: j BENJAMIN G. P0

LK 5 i EMMA F. LEA.

of Patents,

Washington, 1), C. 

